NCAA Division I Council Approves Preseason Model
/
Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle
Written by Juliet Gahan
Sports fans from coast-to-coast are waiting for the return of college football. The sport will make a comeback this season. Today the NCAA Division-I Council approved the plan requiring teams have at least six weeks of training camp to get in on the action.
“The Football Oversight Committee worked hard to create a model that balances the proper precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the need for an acclimatization period to safely return to play.” Said Council chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletics director at Pennsylvania. COVID-19 has changed our world however, there must be a level playing field for players to get their footing for the upcoming season. The new guidelines teams follow do just that.
For the 10 days of training student-athletes may be required to have up to eight hours in the weightroom and conditioning. They are not allowed to have more than two hours of film review per week.
The next two weeks student-athletes may be required to have up to 20 hours of practice activities per week. This cannot exceed more than four hours per day. Coaches can use this time for weight training/conditioning, walk-throughs with a football and meetings. The players will get at least two days off during this time.
After this, the team will have a five-day acclimatization period. Then, they will have the opportunity for 25 on-field practices.
This model offers a lot of flexibility for the upcoming season.
“Now, the lead-in time to the season needs to be the same [for all schools]--six weeks, seven weeks whatever, that needs to be mandated. We've talked as coaches in the conference, and I think the sentiment is pretty much six weeks would be a minimum." Said Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham. Many are in support of the NCAA’s plan to bring back football.
Some schools will begin their six weeks of training as early as July 6, depending on their first game. IU Football has been holding volunteer workouts for the last week. As of right now the Hoosiers are scheduled to take on the Badgers on September 4. However, the impacts of COVID-19 are still leaving this season’s exact schedule a mystery.